The Blackjack Apprenticeship Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Colin Talks w/ Mike Aponte on Leading the Legendary MIT Team to Victory | BJA166 Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

Colin interviews legendary MIT Blackjack Team pro Mike Aponte about joining the team, rebuilding it after the failed “Strategic Investments” era, and how ruthless training, selective recruiting, and disciplined team play turned a $300k bank into multimillion-dollar wins. Aponte details his checkout gauntlet, cover tactics, and why intangibles (calm under pressure, “firing the bets”) matter more than math alone. Mike also teases Housebreakers, his feature documentary exploring advantage play across casinos, poker, sports analytics, and finance.

This interview was done in person, if you'd like to watch rather than just listen click here to see it on the BJA YouTube.

AP Life Skills: AP Ethics Roundtable w/ Colin, Nickels, SD1 & Joe748 | BJA165 Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

Fresh off a BJA bootcamp, Colin sits down with Nickels, SD1, and Joe748 to tackle the question: What are the ethics of advantage play? They unpack ethics vs. legality, the role of deception and cover stories, and where “acting” at the table crosses a personal line. The crew debates dealer errors, shot-taking, whole-carding, and the Phil Ivey edge-sorting case, plus trespass/ID requests and how one AP’s choices can affect the whole community. They also talk about handling back-offs with grace, treating casino staff and “ploppies” like humans, and knowing how to switch the act off when you leave the floor.

Solo Counters to High Stakes Team: StaticBlackjack, RobertMoser & Badluck | BJA164 Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Joe748 and SD1 sit down with StaticBlackjack, RobertMoser, and Badluck to discuss their journey from solo card counters to running a coordinated blackjack team. We dive into bankroll building, team rules, handling casino heat, trust-building, EV-based profit splits, and the perks and challenges of team play. We dig into road trips filled with burritos and back-offs, the trio reveals what it takes to succeed together in the world of advantage play.

[Rebroadcast] Fitting Blackjack into Your Life ft. AP Sage GreaseMonkey | BJA080 Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

Card Counter and BJA member GreaseMonkey joins Colin to discuss: Why he got into card counting, what is was like playing on his own bankroll, what is was like being bankrolled by another player and deciding how Blackjack fit in his life.

July Mailbag Q&A: Transporting Cash, Advanced Counting Systems, Proper Betting | BJA163 Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

Colin, SD1, and Joe748 answer questions covering everything from advanced card counting systems and AP travel stories to risk management and career advice. They discuss the pros and cons of different counting systems, share insights on maintaining an edge, and offer practical advice for both new and experienced players, including safety tips for carrying cash.

The "Big Beautiful Bill": Discussing Impacts With a Gambling Tax Expert | BJA162 Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

Colin, Joe748, and SD1 are joined by tax expert Gary Kondler to break down how new legislation could impact gamblers’ taxes. Gary explains the proposed 10% cap on deductions, how it affects pros and recreational players, and why W2Gs, 1099s, and session accounting matter more than ever. They cover real-world examples, what gamblers can do to prepare, and why planning ahead is critical as these changes loom.

New 90% gambling loss deduction rule
Impact on different gambler types
Professional vs. amateur gambler status
Session method reporting
Practical tax strategies
Audit risks and triggers

If you want to contact Gary for your tax needs you can find him here

[Rebroadcast] Gambling, Advantage Play, and Losing Streaks with “Ballaboy2234” | BJA073 Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

BJA member and Bootcamp grad "Ballaboy2234" joins Colin to discuss:

Training with a co-worker -
Taking advantage of a side count early in his career -
Mid career losing streak and reality check -
The effects of Covid on his career -
And more!

See the Opportunity/Risk video here: https://www.blackjackapprenticeship.com/opportunity-risk-graph-video/

June Mailbag Q&A: Card Counter Tells, Is The Edge Too Small, Is BJA Worth It? | BJA160 Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

In this month's mailbag Joe748 and SD1 tackle top questions from the YouTube community and the BJA forum. They dig into the most common tells of a card counter, dispel myths about the risks and rewards of advantage play, and offer practical advice on navigating casino culture as an aspiring or experienced card counter.

AP Life Skills: The Psychology and Neuroscience of Gambling | BJA159 Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

Joe748 and SD1 interview Dr. Timothy Fong, a UCLA professor and leading authority on gambling addiction, about the neuroscience, risk factors, and real-world consequences of gambling disorders. Dr. Fong explains how gambling impacts the brain, why some people are more vulnerable, and discusses both the moral responsibilities of casinos and the urgent need for better regulation and treatment options. The conversation dives deep into the normalization of gambling, the rise of online platforms, and practical advice for those at risk.

See more of Dr. Fong's work here:

Paradigm’s Path: Bootcamps, Bankrolls, and Burnout as a Full-Time AP | BJA158 Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

Joe748 and SD1 interview BJA Member “Paradigm” about his journey from discovering blackjack and card counting as a hobby to ultimately making the leap from a career in the medical field to becoming a full-time advantage player. Paradigm shares insights on his cautious approach, the impact of COVID on his training, the realities and challenges of professional AP life, and offers practical advice for anyone considering a similar path. They cover the value of networking, the emotional rollercoaster of AP swings, and maintaining flexibility between professional and personal ambitions.

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